Building a successor-generation: Reflections on values and knowledge in nation building

He therefore concluded this segment by saying that knowledge alone, is not enough nor is character, by itself, sufficient.

“In its classical usage, the term ‘elite’ refers to the enlightened segment of society. The ‘terms’ elite and enlightened share the same etymological origins. Thus, elitism is actually defined by the reference for knowledge, the acuity of intellect and the depth of reason. The elite are the enlightened class, that segment of society that devotes themselves to the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. It only then follows that any society’s elite should by default be the society’s problem solvers” – Dr Kayode Fayemi, CON

Nigeria’s Minister of Mines and steel development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, was back at his well travelled lecture circuit this past week as he delivered the convocation lecture at the 2017 convocation ceremonies of his Alma Mata, the University of Lagos. Preceding the lecture proper , the distinguished chairman of the occasion, Major- Gen Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu (Rtd), a former Nigerian minister of Foreign Affairs, had wetted the appetite of the overflowing audience at the University auditorium, freshly named after one of the most iconic Vice Chancellors of the first generation university, the legendary historian , Prof J F Ajayi, with an absolutely dispassionate analysis of the Nigerian conundrum, concluding that rather than the benumbing recycling of our old, if not jaded politicians, the younger generation should be given a chance since we cannot be doing the same thing over and over and expect to have a different result. He gave examples of our First Republic leaders many of who were in their 20’s and 30’s when they assumed national responsibilities. Much as I agree with his thesis, let me quickly posit that Nigeria, in my view, absolutely needs two solid terms of Muhammadu Buhari, the incumbent Head of state, to enable him tame our corrosive corruption bug bear, as well as put Nigeria back on a solid moral and ethical footing from where our jet age young men and women can then launch it into an economic and industrial super power because, all told, Buhari stands shoulder high, over and above, any other Nigerian today, in the terms of the requisite integrity for that humongous assignment. He has serially demonstrated his incomparable integrity in public office and nobody in his /her right frame of mind can even begin to question that. As you read this, persons in comparable offices with him, both before and after him, are now holed up in hilltop palaces. It must be said, in addition, and without any fear of contradiction, that all the demons currently tearing at Nigeria’s innards, are harvests from the better forgotten duo of military era rapacity and PDP’s 16- year stranglehold over the country – years of rotten depravity.

Dr Fayemi’s lecture can be subdivided into three segments namely: the place of the university, the role of government in firmly positioning higher education and the responsibilities devolving on the graduating students. It can be inferred from his lecture that inherent in the university’s .primary functions of teaching and research is, as a centre of knowledge production, impacting positively on the country’s human capital stock by grooming the next generation of leaders as well as its citizens. In his words: “implicit in this is the notion that theatres of higher learning are places where scholars and students reflect upon the peculiar problems of their milieu. Each environment, he said, throws up a host of unique challenges which true scholarship commits to tackling frontally for the betterment of the given society. This is the reason society looks to institutions of higher learning to produce its core of problem solvers, i.e its elite which, unfortunately in our country is derisively categorized as a group of ‘capitalist fat cats, or a class of oppressive rich. In my opinion, this obtuse categorisation will matter nothing as long as they are patriotic and true to their calling. After all, conscience is an open wound and only the truth can heal it.

Flowing from that expectation from our institutions universities, the lecturer had no problems appropriately situating the role of government in ensuring that our tertiary institutions are provided with the wherewithal to accomplish their mandate. In what he describes as Retooling the University for National Development, Dr Fayemi said: “Universities, like the people within them, must embrace change, re-imagine possibilities, and revitalize continuously (Faust, 2012). In contemplating the challenges of leadership and development in Nigeria therefore, we have to critically reappraise our educational institutions and make necessary interventions to ensure they not only have adequate funding, world class physical structures, and functional teaching equipment, but also the right social environment that supports the education of the total man. He went further to affirm these self evident postulations by quoting the Avatar, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as follows: “whether we are conscious of or acknowledge it or not, the fact remains stubborn and indestructible that poverty, disease, social unrest, instability, and all kinds of international conflicts have their origins in the minds of men … It is only when minds of men have been properly and rigorously cultivated and garnished, that they can be safely entrusted with public affairs with a certainty and the assuredness that they will make the best of their unique opportunity and assignment”- (Awolowo,1967).

In addition therefore, the Federal Government must just not be interested in daily approving new higher institutions based mostly on man know man but with little or no regard, for their sustainability, fully equipped with the necessary infrastructural facilities and, above all, lecturers of verifiable capabilities to meaningfully instruct the half baked graduates of our primary school system. Those familiar with goings on in our universities today, in spite of the advertised thousands of those graduating with first class, will know that below these brilliant ones, are more thousands of those making hay with third class and mere pass degrees; fellows whose ability to advance whether at work or in further studies is in great doubt.

As Dr Fayemi rightly put it, year in year out, thousands of young people graduate with many of them merely swelling the ranks of unemployed and unemployable leading to a massive youth unemployment crisis that has calcified over the years with grave socio-economic portents for the future. He questions whether the universities themselves are paying attention by ensuring that the students, while in school, are well equipped to respond to this and other challenges. He therefore concluded this segment by saying that knowledge alone, is not enough nor is character, by itself, sufficient. A fit and proper UNILAG graduate, he said, is one that has successfully straddled the obligations of being found worthy in both character and learning.

Concluding, he shared his UNILAG experiences with the young men and women and provided six key lessons and life skills that the university taught him. As I listened to him, I concluded that not a few must have missed the opportunities he lapped on in his days. For instance, any of the graduating set who had spent most of his/her time in cultism or other waywardness will certainly have no opportunity of making up for lost time. That notwithstanding, there is still a lot to gain from Dr Fayemi’s experience. We would, because of space constraints, merely itemise them.

They are:

1.KNOWLEDGE IS POWER – LEARN HOW TO LEARN

The centrality of academics to university life is such that your ability to prove that you have learnt what you ought to, in accordance with the curriculum, is the singular criterion for progression from level to level until you graduate.

DISCIPLINE – MASTER YOURSELF

Know that without discipline, knowledge is useless.

3 ADAPTABILITY –BE FLEXIBLE AND DYNAMIC

The university environment is a universe of itself. It offers you the unique opportunity to interact with different people from different parts of the world – people of different cultures, faith etc.

Learn with, and from them.

TRULY LIVE –FOLLOW YOUR PASSION

Going to the university is your first time of having total control over your time. Learn early that this comes with corresponding responsibility.

SEIZE THE MOMENT –JUST DO IT

The university environment imbues you with so much power. If you have applied yourself meritoriously

You should by now have not only intellectual capacity and ethical awareness but also some degree of experience and a vast network to leverage on for your personal and professional development.

QUIT WHINING –NO ONE OWES YOU ANYTHING

You must quickly wean yourself off any debilitating entitlement mentality. The earlier you realise that nobody owes you anything the better, and the more prepared you would be to face life challenges.

Sir, in the course of your analysis, you highlighted President Buhari’s qualities that rated him higher than other past leaders. However,you failed to indicate the dent to his stature caused by his reported decision not to re-visit the Report of the Committee on the National Dialogue convened by his predecessor in office. In my view, the Nigerian condition was brought about not only by the betrayal of trust of public holders but by the enabling environment ! If conclusions at the National Dialogue addressed issues of the stifling ‘unitary federalism’ together with its massive concentration of powers at the centre with its attendant abuses and festering clime for corruption, creation of a new political structure/architecture to address agitations by the various nationalities in the country, then HE HAS MISSED IT ! There is just no way he can bequeath any enduring legacy to the on coming generation of young but knowledgeable Nigerians being addressed in the lecture if the requisite stable political environment is a hindrance. .A dialogue that recommends devolution of powers along the six geopolitical entities advocated by Vice President Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekweme and Prof Akinjide Oshuntokun could create the necessary environment that could catalyse growth, development and fulfilment of the various aspirations of the various Nigerian ethnic nationalities in a united Nigeria. The successor generation would have no place to hide when Nigeria Police is decentralised because the locally recruited policeman knows their genealogy. Thieving public officers would be unable to display their obscene wealth because aggressively enhanced civil education by regional government would have mobilised the people. The successor generation weaned under such atmosphere would imbibe the requisite character that would enable them be knowledge fortified leaders in deed and in truth. Decentralisation could benefit the education sector and provoke healthy rivalry among the component regions of the new Nigeria. Standard would be raised and restored. Control of natural resources by the local regional governments with steady contribution to the central government for services bordering on foreign affairs, defence, Customs and Immigration, Currency and intergovernmental relations. The rascally multitude in the Abuja legislature would be replaced by ten legislators each elected from the regional assemblies on part time basis to make laws only on the above stated federal items only. President Buhari could redeem himself and bequeath the legacy of unity and stability to the successor generation if he addressed these and other agitations currently being nursed. The untamed rampaging Fulani herdsmen whose only justification for violence unleashed on fellow compatriots is the laughable claim to cattle routes need to be harnessed. Ranching is the way to go ! Otherwise, the President’s docility in addressing the issue would only go to confirm the fears in some quarters that the undeclared war of resources and domination/ conquest of other people and their land resources with a view to changing their ethnic demography for political gain has long commenced. The President also needs to make merit the basis of his appointments into offices. The present signals are not encouraging. The current war being waged on corruption is also tainted . Many dramatis personae previously of the lot that contributed to our current economic adversity have wisely migrated into the President’s party to avoid prosecution and have been enthusiastically interned and their sins forgiven ! So sir, its not yet Uhuru !